Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Search Party
Asingleshotbeforetheyemergedfromthejunglehadannouncedtothoseincampaswellasontheshipthattheexpeditionhadbeentoolate—forithadbeenprearrangedthatwhentheycamewithinamileortwoofcamponeshotwastobefiredtodenotefailure,orthreeforsuccess,whiletwowouldhaveindicatedthattheyhadfoundnosignofeitherD’Arnotorhisblackcaptors.
Soitwasasolemnpartythatawaitedtheircoming,andfewwordswerespokenasthedeadandwoundedmenweretenderlyplacedinboatsandrowedsilentlytowardthecruiser.
Clayton,exhaustedfromhisfivedaysoflaboriousmarchingthroughthejungleandfromtheeffectsofhistwobattleswiththeblacks,turnedtowardthecabintoseekamouthfuloffoodandthenthecomparativeeaseofhisbedofgrassesaftertwonightsinthejungle.
BythecabindoorstoodJane.
"Thepoorlieutenant?"sheasked."Didyoufindnotraceofhim?"
"Weweretoolate,MissPorter,"herepliedsadly.
"Tellme.Whathadhappened?"sheasked.
"Icannot,MissPorter,itistoohorrible."
"Youdonotmeanthattheyhadtorturedhim?"shewhispered.
"WedonotknowwhattheydidtohimBEFOREtheykilledhim,"heanswered,hisfacedrawnwithfatigueandthesorrowhefeltforpoorD’Arnotandheemphasizedthewordbefore.